Food handling apparatus



April 0, 1940. D. A. MEEKER ET AL 2.199.267

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 +6 r:

I 4 +3 I I37 Q 46 47 99 I L6 96 IIO :3: 97 W 45 IO El ELL lg luvEarllToRs WMQ'WW ATTORNEYS p 30, 1940. D. A. MEEKER ET AL 2.199.267

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS I Filed July 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented Apr. 30, 1940 PATENT {OFFICE I 2.199.201 roon ammo mam-rue David A. Meekerand John C. Slam, from-Ohio,

assignors to The Hobart Manufacturing Oomany, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 28, 19st, Serial No. 93,100

' 17 Claims. (01. -102) I This invention relates to food handling apparatus and more particularly to slicing machines.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a slicing machine which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which provides maximum cleanliness and sanitation at all times.

It is a further object to provide a slicing machine having a work supporting carriage mounted for reciprocating movement with respect to a knife, the carriage being removable and in removed position leaving a plane sanitary work table in front of the knife upon which material may be placed for slicing.

It is a further object to provide a slicing machine of this character which does not require a guard plate overlying the knife and in which objectionable frictional contact of the work material with the knife does not occur.

It is a'further object to provide a construction in which the front face of the knife is exposed, with means for guarding the remote edge of the knife while permitting continuous movement of the work material entirely across the face of the knife.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a slicing machine having-a simple and effective gage plate adjusting means mounted in a protected and out of the way location beneath the impervious work supporting table to provide a maximum of sanitation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a view in elevation with parts being broken away showing a construction of slicing machine in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view. of the device certain portons being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view through the knife and knife axis on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view looking toward the knife and taken through the work table;

' Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the slice tray, gage plate and carriage on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view showing the construction of the carriage mounting on the line 1-1 of F18. 6;

Fig. 8 is a partial view in plan of the underneath side of the slicing machine;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is partial elevational view showing a part of the carriage mounting means.

Referring to the drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown a main base frame structure N which forms not only the base of the machine, but the slice tray, the support for the motor, and for the gage plate adjusting mechanism, and associated parts. It is preferably formed as a single die casting of relatively light weight aluminum alloy material being suitably ribbed to supply the necessary strength characteristics. At the four corners of the base "I feet members II are provided to which are attached rubber or other suitable frictional members adapted to support the device from a counter or the like. The base casting is formed to provide, as an integral unit, the motor support I! projecting upwardly at one end thereof, a slice tray l3 preferably'oi' a slightly dished construction as shown and positioned at the rear of the miife, and a work table structure l4, extending along the entire length of the device on the forward side of the knife, such work table being plane and completely impervious so as to be suitable as a work support if desired when the normal carriage is removed.

The motor I! is mounted within its enclosing casing upon the support l2 in suitable position for driving the rotary knife. The motor casing comprising a cast portion 16 which is bolted directly to the pedestal and in which the stator parts I! of the motor are directly attached. The casting also provides a support for a pair of spaced anti-friction bearing members l8, l9 providing for rotatably journalling. the

motor shaft 20. On the overhanging end of the motor shaft are mounted the rotor parts 2!, the outer end of the shaft being unsupported. If desired a suitable starting cut-out mechanism comprising centrifugally actuated contact means 22 adapted to cooperate with fixed contact members 23 in the starting winding circuit of the motor, may be provided upon the motor shaft.

Intermediate the bearing members I8 and IS the motor shaft is provided with a worm port on 25 which comprises the power take-off for the driving of the knife. This construction provides a very satisfactory drive unit, the over- The knife 32 is mounted upon the end of shaft 29. The shaft is formed with an enlarged head section 33, and the knife is suitably attached to such head by means of screws 34 passing thereinto from the face of the knife. The head 33 is formed with a protruding portion 35 adapted to extend through a central opening of the knife and to lie flush with the adjacent surface thereof. A cap or cover member 36 is provided of sumcient diameter to overlie the screw heads, and is formed with a smooth polished exterior surface. It is fastened to the portion 35 by means of threaded stud 31 permanently attached to cap 35. As shown it preferably has a beveled face 38 at its outer periphery surface, while the remainder of its face 39, radially inward of the beveled part is substantially plane. Such cap may be conveniently screwed into position by pressure with the palm of the hand. The knife 32 is preferably formed with a slightly concave or dished construction as shown in Fig. 4, such that the center of the knife underlies the plane of the peripheral edge thereof. The cap member 35 however is of such depth with relation to the concavity of the knife that its face portion 39 extends substantially into the plane of the outer periphery thereof. The plane of the outer periphery of the knife also substantially corresponds with the plane of the gage plate when the same is brought to its minimum or zero position of adjustment.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that entirely satisfactory operation of the device may be secured without the use of a center guard plate construction to prevent contact of the work material with the knife as the carriage traverses its reciprocatory cycle. And

in accordance with the present invention such satisfactory operation is secured without incurring unnecessary or objectionable rubbing or frictional contact between the work material and the knife.

For this purpose, it is preferred to operate the knife at a speed somewhat reduced below that customarily used in devices of this character. Thus for example very satisfactory results have been secured in an embodiment of the invention such as that described, in which the knife operated at a speed of approximately 200 R. P. M. When the work material is moved across the face of the knife, and the slice severed therefrom, the remaining body of the work material does not incur excessive frictional contact with the knife because of the fact that as the material continues to advance toward the center of the knife, the dished character of the knife provides for its continued withdrawal from the plane of the work 1 material. The farther the work moves toward the centrally located cap 36, the farther the face of the knife recedes and objectionable frictional contact with those portions of the knife that are travelling at relatively high peripheral speed is entirely avoided. As the work material continues to move across the knife it comes in contact with the beveled edge 38 of the cap, by means of which it is again guided and supported upon portion 39 substantially in the plane of the outer periphery of the knife and gage plate. The smooth polished cap being located at the center of the knife, and being of relatively small radial extent, is travelling at relatively quite low peripheral speed, and it is found that with such construction an adequate guiding and supporting action upon the work material is obtained without incurring objectionable rubbingthereupon.

Supported on the upper part of the motor casting I6 is a pedestal 40 for supporting the grinder mechanism 4|. While any suitable grinder structure may be provided, it is preferred to use a grinder such as that disclosed in copending application Serial No. 673,444, filed May 29, 1933, assigned to the same assignee as this application. In such a construction the grinder mechanism includes a grinding wheel and a burr removing wheel adapted to be brought into selective engagement with the cutting edge of the knife in response to the forward or backward movement of the operating member 42. Means are also provided for preventing the engagement of either of the grinding wheels with the knife unless the bolts 43 and 44 are loosened and the cover 45 swung upwardly to open position.

Bolt 43 provides a support for the guard member 45 which protects the upper comer of the to eflectively guard any portion of the upper part of the knife that would otherwise be exposed.

The rear knife guard 41 is formed with a hooked portion 59 at its upper end which fits over the bolt 44 and is adapted to be held in operative position when the, bolt is tightened. And adjusting screw 5| is mounted within the notched portion of the guard which is adapted to be adjusted to determine the spacing of the guard with respect to the knife. As the knife is worn down after continued use, the adjusting pin 5| may be reset to maintain the knife in proper guarding position.

At its lower end, the knife guard is formed with a socket 52 adapted to receive the head of an adjusting bolt 53 which serves to adjustably position a guarding block 54 toward or away from the knife as required in order to compensate for knife wear and the like and which became Patent No. 2,151,862 on March 28, 1939. The end of the guard 41 seats upon the base III of the machine and upon the adjustable block 54, providing for adjustment of the member 54 and of the guard 41 toward and away from the knife as required. Furthermore such construction provides for the ready removal and replacement of the guard since it merely fits down over the head of bolt 53 and can be immediately withdrawn upon the loosening of the upper grinder bolt 44, the socket 52 readily lifting clearof bolt 53. As shown in Fig. 5, the lower end of the guard projects downwardly beyond the surface of block 54 thus providing for the pivoting of the guard about this end when it is withdrawn away from the knife. As a result the edge of the guard nearest the knife swings away from the knife edge in an arcuate path which is substantially tangent to the knife so that accidental contact and damage thereto are avoided. The member 54 is also formed with a portion 55 closely approaching the knife and adapted to serve as a guard for the lower corner of the knife.

Knife guard 41 is preferably so formed that it lies close to but does not extend materially beyond the plane of the periphery of the knife on the front face thereof. At the rear of the knife, there is a substantial overlapping of the guard, as shown at 56. As a result of such construction, effective guarding of the knife is secured, both upon the front and rear faces thereof. And it is further provided that work material can be moved entirely across the face of the knife. Thus a side of bacon or the like, regardless of its length, can be moved in slicing relation to the knife entirely across the knife and beyond where desired without obstruction to its transverse movement.

Mounted upon the rear of the knife upon the base of the motor is a stud 88 which serves to pivotally support, by means-of right angularly formed arm iii, the slice deflector plate 62. This plate is so formed as to not obstruct the slice tray, so that a butcher's tray or the like can be placed directly thereon and closely adjacent the knife so that the sliced material will fall directly thereinto. It is pivotally mounted to permit withdrawal thereof in the cleaning of the device and the like. Y

The lower edge of the knife extends down below the plane of the work table It, and the base casting M is formed at the portion immediately in front of the knife with an integral downwardly sloping face 78 extending from a position in front of the face of the knife toward the rear thereof leaving a recess in front of the knife. At the rear of the knife the face opens out toward the slice tray H as at it. This passage thus serves to provide for forward withdrawal and removal of the knife from its shaft and as a collecting channel for receiving any crumbs or the like dropping from the knife, and for discharging them from the forward face to the rear thereof where they may be readily cleaned from the machine upon the swinging of the slice deflector plate to open position.

' In order to maintain a plane surface work table and to prevent as much as possible the dropping of crumbs below the knife, an insert plate 14 is provided which is adapted to be supported over the sloping portion 18 and within the recess in front of the knife, with its upper surface being supported substantially flush with the top of work table it. The insert plate is provided with a pair of lugs 15 upon the opposite ends thereof, which are adapted to cooperate with a fixed pin '16 at one end, and a resiliently held pin 11 at the other. The surface of work table it is grooved as at 18, to provide a seat for the insert plate, and is further notched out as at V9 to provide a convenient place for a finger hold upon the insert plate. When this plate is in operative position,

it is securely and yieldingly held therein forming a continuous plane surface for the work ,table, and closely approaching the face of the knife. When it is desired to clean the passage beneath theplate, it may be removed from operative position by lifting upon the outer end thereof, overcoming the resilient action of the holding pin 1'! and completely withdrawing the plate from its operative position.

The plate also is formed upon its face adjacent the knife with a downwardly extending sec- 92 to supply lubricant thereto.

tion 80, extending slightly beyond the lower edge of the knife and closely adjacent thereto, thereby forming an effective guard to prevent accidental injury from the knife during the cleaning operation from the rear thereof. This construction also tends to prevent food particles from falling from the knife or work table into the recess 10, thus maintaining a sanitary condition in such recess. In cleaning the passage, insert plate 18 may be first'removed and that portion of the passage on the forward face of the knife cleaned of any collected scraps or crumbs, and the plate then reinserted in operative position. Thereafter the passage may be cleaned from the rear of the knife, and the portion 88 of the plate provides adequate protection during this cleaning operation from the knife.

For some purposes the top surface of plate 14 may be formed with a dished or recessed construction, extending across in front of the knife. Such recess serves to receive and collect grease or the like which may tend to collect on the knife face when working with certain materials.

In addition to providing a plane continuous work supporting surface, the work table I4 also provides an impervious cover and supporting structure for both the gage plate supporting and adjusting means, and for the carriage supporting means. Referring first to the carriage structure, this comprises the longitudinally extending rod 85 fastened into the base frame beneath cover it at opposite ends to downwardly extending flanges 86 formed integrally with the base casting. Also a guide bar 81 is bolted to the base structure, the guide bar being'spaced from the shaft 85, and having its edge presented thereto. A bearing member 88 is slidably mounted upon guide rod 85, and is formed with a reservoir 88 for receiving suitable lubricant. Bearing member 88 is formed with a neck portion 88 extending toward the bar 81, the neck portion being cored to provide for rotatably receiving the shank of guide member 9|. Member 8| is formed with a recessed head portion 92 fitting engaging bar 81 in guiding relation thereto. The member 92 also preferably has a central aperture for receiving a wick 93 one end of which dips within the reservoir 88, the other end extending into the head An additional wick affords lubrication for rod 85. Such structure provides for properly and firmly supporting the slide 88, and preventing longitudinal or retational displacement thereof. Inequalities in alignment of the shaft 85 and of the bar 81 are compensated for as a result of relative turning movement of member 9! within the neck 88.

The slide 88 extends downwardly below the vertical flange 95 of cover member l4 so that a completely impervious front face is maintained upon the device. The slide is provided with an upwardly extending section 88 which provides a support for removably mounting the work supporting carriage. Member 96 is formed with guiding and supporting surfaces 91, 98, upon ts opposite sides, these surfaces being at righ angles with respect to each other and extending from top to bottom of member 98. They are adapted to cooperate with correspondingly formed surfaces upon the carriage proper, thereby supporting and guiding the carriage, and preventing torsional rotation thereof.

At its central portion, member 98 is formed with an upwardly open notch as at 89' to provide for receiving the attaching means carried by the work carriage. A stud I00 is fixed in position adjacent the lower part of member 96 the stud having an enlarged head IOI for receiving a cooperating part of the carriage.

The work supporting carriage is formed with a tail portion I03 whichis provided with finished surfaces I04 and I05 adapted to cooperate respectively with the surfaces 91 and 98 upon the slide structure. The lower part of the tail is given a slight tapering construction away from surface 91 of the slide as shown at I05 in Fig. 10, so as to facilitate the placing of the carriage in operative position upon its support while avoiding accidental contact with the knife. The tail is provided with central notch I01 at its lower edge adapted to fit over the bolt I00, and to be engaged and temporarily held in assembled position thereupon.

The tail piece also carries a locking member IIO which is fixed for limited movement within recess III beneath the carriage, and is spring pressed by means of spring II2 away from the tail piece. A tightening bolt H3 is threadedly engaged within the member H0, and is so con-.

structed that the member IIO fits over the portion 96 of slide when the parts are in assembled position, the bolt extending through slot 99. The spring 2 tends to maintain the locking member in spaced position as to facilitate ready assembly. In assembled position, the bolt H3 is then tightened, pulling the locking member firmly against the support 96, and the entire carriage structure is rigidly and firmly supported upon the slide the right angularly formed faces as described preventing any tendency of the carriage to twist or tilt upon its support. The assembly operation is further facilitated by the tapered structure I06, which permits the carrlage to be engaged with the slide and lowered into assembled position with notch I01 engaging bolt I00, while the carriage is tilted slightly away from the knife. This facilitates assembly and removal, and prevents the carriage from being rocked into the knife even though clamp screw H3 is left untightened by the operator.

The work supporting carriage proper is formed with a surface I inclined slightly upwardly; the rear surface I 2I extending at substantially right angles thereto. The carriage may also be formed with an operating finger I22 to facilitate manual reciprocation, and with an extended flanged portion I23 adapted to overlie the edge of the knife in the extreme forward position of the carriage to prevent accidental contact therewith. This structure preferably comprises an integral light weight metal casting.

A pusher plate structure I25 is pivotally mounted upon a carrying arm I26, the arm in turn being mounted'upon cross shaft I21 supported at the far end of the carriage. The pusher plate is provided with a vertical pusher face and with a lower work engaging member I28 having a toothed construction to provide for secure engagement therewith. Cooperating finger I29 and pin I30 provide for retaining the pusher plate in an upward withdrawn position, withdrawn clear of the carriage, and also prevent raising the pusher plate in such position that it would bump the grinder mechanism when it is moved inwardly of the carriage.

Referring now to the gageplate structure, the gage plate is shown at I35, being mounted upon an overhanging supporting member I36, extending upwardly from the rear of the work supporting table, into overhanging relation therewith, so that an impervious work supporting table is maintained. The support I36 carries a cross bar I31 to which the gage plate is bolted by means of bolts I38, permitting of adjusting movement of the gage plate with respect thereto, so as to regulate its position with respect to the lmife as desired when the knife diameter is reduced by continued grinding.

The support I36 overhangs the work table I4 sufliciently so that in its maximum slice position of adjustment the gage plate does not extend outwardly beyond the edge of the work table. The work table extends to the rear and beyond the plane of the knife, so that there is little probability of crumbs or scraps falling downwardly from the work table from which they can be readily cleaned. The support I extends below the work table, and passes through an aperture in the vertical wall I39 of the main frame casting. It ispreferably formed integrally with a slide I40 which passes beneath the top of the work table.

The slide I 40 is of a longitudinal extent substantially corresponding with the width of the work table, and is provided with a longitudinally extending groove I. At its edge, it is provided with a finished surface I42, adapted to bear against and be guided by an extending lug I43 cast integrally with the work table. The arrangement of the slide and its guiding surfaces is such as to effect the movement thereof in an angular direction to cause the gage plate to move backwardly away from the knife simultaneously with an increase in the thickness of the slice.

A clamping plate I45 is bolted to the underside of cover I4 by means of bolts I46, and is provided with a tongue portion I41 adapted to fit within the groove I4I of the slide. The clamp also carries a pair of threaded adjusting screws I48 having bearing adjustment with a beveled face of lug I43 to permit of accurately adjusting of the clamp with respect to the slide. Thus with the bolts I40 partly loosened, the adjusting screws I48 are set to cause the tongue I41 to bear against the grooved slide structure to. take up lost motion, to provide adequate'guiding and supporting relation. Thereafter the bolts are tightened and the slide is thereby maintained in firm supporting relation. Further a cross bar I49 is mounted upon the underside of the work table at the inner end of the slide, to prevent any tendency of the slide to tilt when the work material is pressed against the gage plate to thereby maintain the gage plate in a firm supported relation.

Movement and adjustment of gage plate is effected by means of the adjusting handle I50. This handle is pivotally supported upon the under side of the gage plate upon pivot I5I being thereby located beneath the work table which is maintained without apertures. An operating link I 52 is pivotally attached to the lever and to the slide I40 as indicated, so that upon rotation of handle I an adjustable sliding movement of the slide, with corresponding movement as the gage plate is effected. The handle I50 extends outwardly beneath the base casting, suitable abutments I53 being formed therein to limit its extent of movement. An arcuate shaped portion I54 is inteanism thus is entirely supported beneath the work table, in an out of the way and protected position, entirely free of apertures through the work table. Thus not only is a plane surface work table provided, but there is further assurance of the maintenance of a proper sanitary condition with access of food particles to the mechanism entirely prevented; And similarly,

the work supporting carriage is also positioned and supported for reciprocating movement with respect to the knife, by means located in a protected position beneath the impervious work table, and entirely free of sucli table so as not to interfere with the use thereof when it is desired to remove the work carriage.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slicing machine of the character described comprising a rotary knife, a main base casting forming a slice tray, motor support, and work table upon the forward face of the knife, a gage plate, means positioned beneath the work table for supporting and adjusting the gage plate, the gage plate extending in overhanging relation to the work table in all positions of adjustment.

2. A slicing machine of the character described comprising a knife, a main base member forming a plane surfaced impervious work supporting table upon the forward side of the knife, and also forming integrally a slice receiving tray at a lower level than said work supporting table upon the rear side of the knife, said base member having a vertical wall joining said work table and said slice tray, a gage plate, means positioned beneath said work table for adjusting and supporting said gage plate, said means including a supporting member passing through an aperture in said vertical wall, said supporting member being constructed to support said gage plate in overlying relation to said work table in all positions of adjustment of the gage plate.

3. A slicing machine of the character described comprising a knife, a base casting forming a.

plane impervious work table on the forward side of the knife, a gage plate, means positioned beneath said work table and extending upwardly from one side thereof for supporting and adjusting said gage plate while maintaining the plane and impervious character of said work table, a carriage, and means for supporting said carriage positioned beneathv said work table and extending upwardly from the opposite side thereof for reciprocating motion with respect to said knife.

4. I A slicing machine of the character described comprising a main base member, a rotary slicing knife, said main base member forming a plane impervious work table upon the forward side of.

the knife, said work table being formed with a recess directly in front of said knife for the collection of crumbs, scraps and the like, and a removable insert plate positioned within said recess, and closely adjacent the knife, the upper surface'of said insert plate lying substantially in the plane of said work table.

5. A slicing machine of the character described comprising a main base member, a rotary slicing knife, said main base member forming a plane impervious work table upon the forward face of the knife, said work table being formed with a recess directly in line with said knife for the collection of. crumbs, scraps and. the like, a removable insert plate positioned within said recess, the upper surface of said insert plate lying substantially in the plane of said work table, and a flange carried by said insert plate and extending down into said recess below the edge of the knife and closely adjacent thereto to form 'a' guard therefor.

6. In a slicing machine of the character dework table surface extending entirely across the gage plate and the knife, said work table surface being raised above the slice tray and formed beneath said knife with an impervious passage sloping from the work table to said slice tray,

and a plate member positioned over said passage directly in front of said knife to complete said plane table surface.

7. A slicing machine of the character described which comprises a slicing knife, a gage plate, a carriage, means forming a plane top impervious work table on the forward side of the knife and gage plate, a slide rod positioned beneath said work table, means slidable on said rod extending from beneath said work table for supporting said carriage for reciprocating movement relative to said knife, adjustable means for said gage plate entirely supported from beneath said work table, and means connecting with said adjusting means and extending from beneath said work table for supporting said gage plate in adjustable relation to the knife leaving the top of said work table plane and impervious.

8. In a slicing machine of the character described, the combination of a base, a rotary knife, an arcuate knife guard for the edge of said rotary knife, means for removably supporting said knife guard in guarding relation to'the knife including means for releasably retaining the upper end of said knife guard in predetermined position with respect to the knife, 9. lower guarding member, means for adjustably mounting said lower guarding member on said base adjacent the lower portion of the said knife in adjustable position with respect to the knife, the lower end of said knife guard having an open-ended socket adapted to receive a part of said guarding member and to be removably held thereby in predetermined relation to the knife corresponding to the position of adjustment of said guarding member, and being readily removable therefrom upon release of the upper end thereof, the knife guard having a part extending below said socket and adapted to bear against said base to form a pivot for said guard located substantially radially of said knife about which the guard-swings during removal thereof from operative position.

9. In a slicing machine of the character described the combination of a base, a rotary knife, a gage plate, an arcuate guard for the exposed edge of the knife located entirely on the side of the knife remote from said gage plate, said guard extending radially inwardly of the knife periphery a limited distance into overlapping relation with the knife on the rear face thereof leaving I the remainder of the rear face of the knife exposed and extending closely adjacent and into but not substantially beyond the plane of the periphery of the knife on the forward face thereof to provide for unobstructed traverse of work material entirely across the face of the knife, and means for supporting said guard providing for removal thereof by swinging abouta pivot point adjacent the lower end thereof, the lower end of said guard terminating substantially in radial alignment with said pivot point to effect movement thereof away from the knife upon removal of said guard and avoiding accidental contact thereof with said knife.

10. In a slicing machine of the character de-.

scribed the combination of a rotary knife, a base forming a plane top work table on the forward side of the knife, a carriage, and means for I mounting said carriage in overhanging relation tending upwardly adjacent thereto, said section to said work table for movement relative to said knife including slide means supported from beneath said work table and having a section exbeing formed with a plurality of angularly related guiding and supporting surfaces, a tongue positioned on said carriage, said tongue being formed with cooperative angularly related surfaces providing for being slidably received upon said section, and means for locking said tongue upon said section to firmly support said carriage upon said slide.

11. In a slicing machine of the character described the combination of a rotary knife, a base forming a plane top work table on the forward side of the knife, a carriage, and means for mounting said carriage in overhanging relation to said work table for movement relative to said knife including slide means supported from beneath said work table and having a section extending upwardly adjacent thereto, said section being formed with a plurality of angularly related guiding and supporting surfaces, a tongue position on said carriage, said tongue being formed with cooperative angularly related surfaces providing for being slidably received upon said section, the surface of the tongue parallel with the plane of said knife being tapered to provide for establishing said sliding engagement with the carriage in position tilted away from contact with the knife.

12. In a slicing machine of the character described the combination of a rotary knife, a base forming a plane top work table on the forward side of the knife, acarriage, and means for mounting said carriage in overhanging relation to said work table for movement relative to said knife-including slide means supported from beneath said work table and having a section extending upwardly adjacent thereto, said section being formed with a plurality of angularly related guiding and supporting surfaces, a tongue positioned'on said carriage, said tongue being formed with cooperative angularly related surfaces providing for being slidably received upon said section, a locking member mounted under said carriage for limited movement relative thereto, and a bolt carried by said tongue for causing said member to engage said section when the carriage is in assembled position to firmly hold the same in place thereon.

13. In a slicing machine of the character described the combination of a rotary knife, a base forming a plane top work table on the forward side of the knife, a carriage, and means for mounting said carriage in overhanging relation to said work table for movement relative to said knife including slide means supported from beneath said work table and having a section extending upwardly adjacent thereto, said section being formed with a plurality of angularly related guiding and supporting surfaces, a tongue positioned on said carriage, said tongue being formed with cooperative angularly related surfaces providing for being slidably received upon said section, a locking member mounted under said carriage and movable with respect to said tongue, means urging said member into spaced relation with said tongue to provide for receiving said section therebetween when the carriage is assembled in position thereon, and means for drawing said locking member into engagement with said section to retain and support the carriage in operative position.

14. A slicing machine of the character described comprising a gage plate, a work supporting carriage, a rotary knife having a dished face tapering inwardly fromthe periphery thereof toward the center, the center portion of the knife face lying to the rear of the plane of the periphery thereof, pusher plate means for urging the work material toward said gage plate and said knife, and supporting means of substantially less diam'eter than said knifefastened to the dished face of the knife centrally thereof and rotatable therewith,

said supporting means having a smooth beveled surface extending from the dished face of said knife substantially into the plane of the periphery of the knife and providing'for guiding and supporting the work material in slicing relation and against the action of the pusher plate means without objectionable frictional contact therewith.

15. In a slicing machine of the character described, a gage plate, a rotary knife having a slightly dished outer face tapering inwardly from the periphery toward the center, the plane of the periphery of the knife substantially corresponding with the plane of the gage plate, pusher plate means for urging the work material toward said knife during the slicing operation, a supporting member of substantially less diameter than said knife positioned at the center of said knife and rotatable therewith, the plane of, the inner portion of said member lying substantially within the plane of the gage plate and the periphery of the knife, said member having a smooth outer beveled face for receiving the work material as it moves across the face of said knife, and guiding it into supporting relation with said inner part of said member, and means upon the side of the knife remote from the gage plate for guarding the same while providing for free traverse of the material thereacross.

16. A slicing machine of the character described adapted to successfully slice work material without the use of a guard plate, comprising a rotary knife having an outer periphery and a dished face tapering inwardly from the periphery toward the center thereof, and a smooth surfaced cap of substantially less diameter than the knife located centrally of the face of the knife and rotatable therewith, said cap having a smooth outer peripheral edge traveling at a lesser peripheral speed than the periphery of the knife which surface approaches the dished face of said knife at only a slight angle and merges smoothly therewith inwardly of the plane of the knife periphery, said cap also havinga smooth central part of lesser radial extent than said edge extending above the dished face of said knife substantially into the plane of the periphery of the knife for guiding and supporting the work material as it moves across the face of the knife with reduced friction.

1'7. In a slicing machine of the character described the combination of a rotary knife, a base forming a plane top work table on the forward side of the knife, a carriage, means for mounting said carriage in overhanging relation to said work table for movement relative to said knife including slide means supported frombeneath said work table and having a section extending upwardly adjacent thereto, said section being formed with a plurality of angularly related guiding and supporting surfaces, a tongue positioned on said carriage, said tongue being formed with cooperative angulariy related surfaces providing for being slidably received upon said section, and looking means including a manually operable locking member carried by and retained upon one of said parts and a fixed member upon the other of said parts for locking said tongue upon said section to firmly support said carriage upon said slide.

DAVID A. MEEKER. JOHN C. SLAGER.

v CERTIFICA'I'E OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,199,267. April 50, 191w.

DAVID A. ma, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 7, after "is" insert apage 2, second column, lines 57 and 58, strike out"and which became Patent No. 2,151,862 on March 28, 1959" and insert the same after 'application" and before the period, in line 20; page 6, first column, line 141, claim 11, for the word "position" read -positionedand that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June, A. D. 191m.

' Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

